Fence-tightening post.



N. HOWARD. FENCE TIGHTENING POST.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE-4| I915.-

Patented Jan. 23, 1917.

l/V I/E N TOR:

ATTORNEY til l" @FFTCE NELSON F. HOWARD, F FAIRFIELID TOWNSHIP, TIPPECANOE COUNTY, INDIANA.

JEENCE-TIGH'IENING POST.

Application filed June 4, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NELSON F. HOWARD, a citizen of the United States, residing in Fairfield township, in Tippecanoe county and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Fence-Tightening Post, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters andv figures of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to corner or end posts that are designed to support and ti hten wire fencing, the invention having reference more particularly to a composite post comprising a monolithic concrete main part and a metallic winding-shaft and supports.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved fence-tightening post of such construction as to afford all the advantages of a very strong and durable concrete post, and a readily accessible winding part so arranged and supported by the main concrete part that the strains consequent to the tight cued fencing shall be resisted by the base to a greater degree than by the upper portion of the concrete main part.

A further object is to provide improved means for rotating and holding the winding part of the post, more especially so as to dlspense with objectionable ratchet wheels and paWls; a still further object being to provide a middle support to resist the strains put upon the winding-shaft, and without entailing the. use and expense of devices other than the apparatus required for rotating and holding the winding-shaft.

The invention consists in a monolithic post having a laterally extending base, i metalllc windlng-shaft mounted upon the projecting base portion and laterally supported by the post, and worm gearing of novel construction and arrangement for rotating and holding the shaft; the invention consisting further in the novel parts, and combinations and arrangements of parts. as hereinafter particularly described and further defined in the accompanying claims.

Referring to the drawings,-Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved postand woven wire fencing thereon; Fig. 2 is a top plan of the post partially broken away adjacent to the winding appliances; Fig. 3 is a vertical section approximately on the line A A on Fig. 2 but partially broken away;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 23, 191*? Serial No. 32,176.

and, Fig. 4: is a perspective view of an inn proved supporting member.

Gn the different figures of the drawings, similar reference characters indicate corresponding elements or features of construction hereinafter more particularly pointed out.

A practical embodiment of the invention comprises a very large and substantial concrete base that is preferably molded in the ground where the post is to be situated, the base preferably having two right-angled wings 1 and 2 which form a front corner 3, and a main portion 4: in the angle behind the wings upon which a concrete column 5 is molded, a portion of the base extending forward of the column and slightly above the ground surface. A. cylindrical stubshaft 6 is provided which has a shank 7 that is vertically embedded in the projecting corner portion 3 of the base at a suitable dis tance from the column 5, the stubshaft projecting a short distance beyond the top of the base portion. A collar 8 is placed on the stub-shaft and rests upon the base portion. A. journal bearing 9 is provided which has a suitable shank 10 that is embedded in the upper portion of the column 5 and supports the journal bearing above the collar 8.

A journal bearing arm 11 is provided which has a circular hole 12 therein adapted to rotatably support a journal, another arm 13 being provided that has a slot 14 therei adapted to support another journal, the arms having anchoring members 15 and 16 respectively that converge each to the other and have an integral connection 17, the members and the connection being embedded in't-he column 5 on a plane at a suitable height above the projecting base portion, the position being determined with respect to the spacing of the fencing wires so as to not cause interference with the wires, the arms 11 and 13 beingsupported so to project beyond the column. A worm 18 is provided which has a journal 19 that is rotatably supported in the bearing 12, and a journal 20 that is supported in the bearing slot 1 1-, the end of the journal 20 having a squared portion 21 thereon to which a wrench may be applied for rotating the worm. The worm being arranged to rotate on the horizontal axis and so that the strains imposed when tightening and holding the fencing shall be resisted by the arm 11, the arm and its anchoring member 15 preferably are somewhat thicker and stronger than the arm 13 and its anchoring member 16.. A spiral-toothed gear wheel 22 is provided which has a projecting hub 23, and a cylindrical winding-shaft 24 of suitable length is provided and inserted through the journal bearing 9 and the gear wheel 22, the latter being secured firmly to the shaft by means of a pin 25, the lower end of the shaft being connected rotatably onto the stub-shaft 6 while the gear wheel is placed in connection with the worm 18. lhe winding-shaft is hollow and is cheaply formed of iron tubing, its top being provided with acap 26. The winding-shaft has a suitable number of apertures 27 in its wall above the gear wheel 22 and similar apertures 27 spaced relatively closer together below the gear wheel. Fencing wires 28, 28, which usually are connected to stay rods 29, are inserted in the apertures of the winding-post and extend in one direction, other wires 30, 30, being inserted also in the apertures, the latter wires usually being connected to stay wires 81. Preferably the upper portion of the winding-shaft has apertures 32 adjacent to the cap to receive barbed wires 33 and 33 that are strungabove the woven wire fencing.

In practical use, having connected the fencing wires to the winding-shaft, the worm 18 is rotated and transmits its motion to the gear wheel 22,'so that the windingshaft is rotated and tightens the fencing wires, the powerful action of the worm gearing enabling the operator to thoroughly stretch the wires without being compelled to exert himself to the utmost of his strength. When the worm 18 is at rest it prevents rotation of the gear wheel 22 and the winding shaft, so that no separate latching clevice is required. The stub-shaft 6 being anchored in the base portion of the post relieves the column of the larger portion of the strain due to the more closely spaced and relatively larger number of lower fencingwires, while the worm 18 and the gear wheel 22 operate to brace the hollow winding-shaft 24 and prevent bending of the shaft under the tightening strains. It will be seen that as a result of this construction the upper and weaker portion of the column must resist only a relatively small proportion of the strains imposed by the tightening operations. In case the fencing must be removed and replaced by new fencing, or in case the metallic parts of the post deteriorate so as to require renewal, either may readily be accomplished while the heavier and more expensive main part of the post remains in position.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. A fence post including a column, a winding-shaft rotatably supported uprightly adjacent to the column and having a spiral-tooth gear wheel fixedly secured to the middle portion thereof, and a worm rotatably supported by the column between the column and the gear wheel in engagement with the wheel and affording lateral support to the middle portion of the windingshaft, the worm being adapted for turning and also for holding the gear wheel.

2. A fence post including a base, a column fixed on the base, a journal bearing supported by the upper portion of the column, a winding-shaft extending rotatably through the journal bearing and rotatably supported upon the base, a spiral-tooth gear wheel fixedly secured to the winding-shaft, and a worm rotatably supported by the column between the column and the gear wheel in driving engagement with the wheel, the worm affording lateral support to the winding shaft.

3. A fence post including a base, a column fixed upon the base, a stub-shaft having a shank that is fixedly secured in the upper portion of the base, the shaft projecting upward beyond the top of the base, a collar supported upon the top of the base and extending about the stub-shaft, a hollow upright winding-shaft having its lower end extending rotatably about the stub-shalt and supported upon the top of the collar, and a journal bearing secured to the upper portion of the column and supporting the upper portion of the winding-shaft.

4. A fence post including a base, a column fixed on the base and having two arm-supporting members fixedly secured therein, the members converging from the exterior inwardly each to the other and being connected together within the column, the members having each an arm thereon that projects beyond the column, one of the arms having a circular journal bearing therein, the other having a slot in its end to constitute a journal bearing, a worm horizontally arranged between the arms and having two journals rotatably supported in the journal bearings, a winding-shaft rotatably supported upon the base, and a spiral-tooth gear wheel fixedly secured to the windingshaft in engagement with the worm.

In testimony whereof, I allix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

NELSON F. HO'WARD.

Witnesses:

DAISY M. HOWARD, E. T. SILvIUs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents, Washington, D. C. 

